News article

9 June 2011

ARAMARK opens its doors to Scotland's food and drink suppliers

One of the world's largest catering companies, ARAMARK, played host to food
manufacturers from across Scotland at the Scottish Food and Drink Federations[1] Suppliers Forum on Tuesday 7 June.

Companies that supply everything from haggis to smoked game, vegetable crisps
and salt substitutes, attended the event which gave them the opportunity to
meet
face-to-face with major catering company, ARAMARK[2] who provide tailor-made food service and refreshment solutions, including
business dining, employee restaurants, retail facilities and coffee outlets
throughout the country.

The event was held at one of ARAMARK'S key client sites, AEGON UK, in Edinburgh
on 7 June and attendees met operational and support teams from ARAMARK and
found
out more about the contract catering sector. With candid presentations covering
the overall market, food development, distribution channels and what ARAMARK
looks for from its suppliers, the ARAMARK team also covered topical issues such
as
environmental stewardship, employee advocacy and community involvement.

Keith Butlin, Account Director for AEGON UK said: “We are delighted to be able
to do our bit for the Scottish food community in helping them understand our
values and our markets, and will support them in collaboratively improving our
service offers for the benefit of our clients and their employees and visitors”.

Flora McLean, Director of the Scottish Food and Drink Federation said:
“Food service is a key market for manufacturers. Unlike grocery retailers
that
are open to us all to research, it is more difficult for suppliers to
understand
the needs of foodservice operators. This is particularly true of companies such
as ARAMARK who operate within 'hidden' markets such as business and industry,
education, health, offshore and defense.

“We are delighted to be able to offer manufacturers the opportunity to find out
more about one of the world's most respected catering companies at our
Suppliers' Forum events. ARAMARK offers excellent commercial opportunities for
supplier
companies and, by facilitating this meeting, we are confident that the
companies
involved will be better placed to take advantage of opportunities on this
sector”.

This buyer briefing is part of the Scottish Food and Drink Federation's highly
respected Suppliers' Forum programme of events which are free to attend for
members of SFDF. Food businesses who have attended previous Suppliers' Forum
events
were able to network, meet buyers and secure future contracts. Fife based
business, Innovate Foods[3], specialising in food service, are just one of the companies who benefitted
from attending the events.

Tony Dumbreck, Managing Director of Innovate Foods said:
“Last year, we attended a SFDF Suppliers' Forum event hosted by 3663 which
has
been great for our business. We were delighted to be selected by them for a
Regional listing across a range of six lines. Working with their sales team we
have
grown the business through presentation to targeted customers which has led to
menu listings, and we have extended the geographical footprint up to Inverness
and down to Gateshead so far”.

Note to Editors

1. The Scottish Food and Drink and Federation is the voice of the Scottish food
and drink manufacturing industry – Scotland's largest manufacturing sector. For
more information about SFDF and the industry we represent visit:
www.sfdf.org.uk.

2. ARAMARK is a leader in professional services providing award-winning food
services facilities around the world. ARAMARK UK employs over 12,500 employees
who
provide tailor-made food service and refreshment solutions, including business
dining, employee restaurants, retail facilities and coffee outlets throughout
the
country. ARAMARk have been voted as one of the 'World's Most Ethical Companies'
by the Ethisphere Institute.

3. Innovate Foods has been established for 21 years, specialising in Foodservice
from their base in Fife. Starting life as the processing offshoot of a three
generation family mushroom growing business they are internationally recognised
for
the quality of their products. Around 75 per cent of their output goes to major
restaurant operators in UK and Europe with regular consignments to Germany,
Greece, Ireland and Spain. They have managed to achieve 25 per cent growth in
each
of the last two years and are targeting the same performance again this year.
They are currently designing a factory extension.